I have sympathy for the idea of a refurbishment and possible enlargement of the King Alfred leisure centre (Letters, March 29).

The real problem we are contending with is finding the money and much of that has already been spent in seeking a viable solution.

Of one thing I am sure, overloading the site is not going to help at all and, sorry to say it, neither is the introduction of 40 per cent affordable housing.

This is a first-class site with development potential sufficient to fund affordable housing elsewhere.

Relatively few high-class flats could each command £300-500,000 here and would make a substantial contribution to the refurbishment of the existing centre.

The objective should be abundantly apparent for this unique site: The reviving of the King Alfred, the generation of funds to meet the cost by development of a limited number of top-quality flats, augmentation with controller commercial uses and plenty of car-parking spaces.

The imposition of affordable housing in this location will run counter to the twin aims of affordability and harmonisation.

That may stick in the craw of some people wedded to dogma but it is the only way to face up to commercial realities and risks.

-Jerry Laurie, King's Esplanade, Hove